Center for Healthy Living profile: Rosemary Benjamin

March 29, 2013  


Rosemary Benjamin

Rosemary Benjamin, registered dietitian at the Center for Healthy Living. (Rodney McPhail/HR Communications)
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Today's installment in the series about staff at the Center for Healthy Living introduces Rosemary Benjamin,registered dietitian at the center.

What’s the registered dietitian’s role?

Registered dietitians, or RDs, are the food and nutrition experts, translating the science of nutrition into practical solutions for healthy living and permanent lifestyle change. We use evidence-based medicine to develop individualized meal plans for clients of all ages. We’re able to help a client sift through fads and facts and translate nutritional science into information the client can use. We put you on a path to a healthy weight, healthful eating and a reduced risk of chronic diseases.

What is the role of a certified diabetes educator?

A certified diabetes educator (CDE) is a medical health care professional who possesses comprehensive knowledge and experience related to diabetes self-management, pre-diabetes and diabetes prevention. We support and empower people affected by diabetes so that they can understand and manage their condition. We must meet strict requirements and have advanced training before we are eligible to take the CDE exam, and we must renew our certification every five years to demonstrate continued knowledge and experience in the specialty. This consists of documented hours of clinical practice and counseling with patients and continuing education to meet the national board requirements for recertification.

What led you to choose this career?

I found a fascination to the link between what a person eats and the significant impact it has on the person’s total health. For every disease or condition one will face in a lifetime, food intake, digestion and usage of the food can have a positive or negative effect on the body. I wanted to be able to share this information with clients and help them set goals to improve their total health in a simplified and doable fashion.

When or for what conditions would people talk with you? 

Any chronic disease in which food is a concern and in which food would impact a person at home, work or school can be discussed. This includes diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity and more. These diseases affect many areas of a person’s life, and I would like to be the person’s link to learning how to modify nutritional intake to help manage the disease. 

What can people expect during a visit with you?  

We will look at their medical condition and then develop a plan of action for nutritional changes that could improve their health. Individualized meal plans, label reading, cooking tips and portion control are just some of the topics that will be discussed. Most importantly, I will listen and be a resource for the client on nutritional related topics.

What do you enjoy in your time away from the job? 

I enjoy being with my family and children, traveling, and hosting pool parties in the summer.

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